Oil-based ballpoint
Thick, oil-based paste ink. Dries almost instantly, rarely bleeds, lasts a long time, and writes through carbonless forms, but needs more pressure.
// pen ink, documented
The ink reference for people who write by hand
Ballgel explains what is actually inside ballpoint, hybrid, gel, and rollerball pens, and how that changes smoothness, drying time, bleed-through, and permanence. No brands, no affiliate links: just how the inks behave.
Spec sheet: the four ink families
Low-viscosity (hybrid) ballpoint
Oil-based ink thinned for a smoother, darker line. Dries quickly and handles most paper, with a little less mileage than a classic ballpoint.
Gel
Water-based ink thickened with a gelling agent. Smooth, crisp, and vivid; pigment gels are among the most water- and fade-resistant options. Slower to dry, so test before buying if you are left-handed.
Liquid rollerball
Thin, water-based liquid ink. Very smooth with almost no pressure, but it soaks into cheap paper, can bleed through, and uses ink quickly.
Scores are generalisations (0 to 3) about each ink family, not tests of specific pens.
Reference entries
- Ballpoint vs gel vs rollerball inkHow ballpoint, hybrid, gel, and rollerball pens work, and how their inks compare on smoothness, drying time, bleed-through, refill life, and colour.
- Writing left-handed without smudgesWhy left-handed writers smudge ink, which ink types dry fastest, and practical changes to paper position and grip that keep your page and hand clean.
- Permanent ink for documents and signaturesWhat makes pen ink permanent, what document-use markings on pens mean, and how to choose ink for signatures, cheques, and records that must last.